Reset mechanism for odometers



Dec. 2,` 1930. J. jzUBATY 1,783,398

RESET MECHANISM FOR ODOMETERS Filed Sept, 16, 1927 3fm/vanto@ Patented Dec. 2, 1930 UNTED STATES PATENT GFFICE JOSEPH ZUBATY, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO A C SPARK PLUG COMPANY, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, A COMPANY OF MICHIGAN RESET MECHANISIII FOR ODOMETERS Application fried September 16, 1927. Serial No. 2l9,973.

My invention relates to odometer mechanism, and particularly to resetting means for moving the trip portion of the odometer bach to a Zero position; so that the mileage covered "5 by each separate trip may be noted independently of the reading of the. total odometer wheels, whichregister the total distance traveled since the installation of the instrument.

More specifically stated, my invention has for its object to provide resetting mechanism in which the member whereby the resetting of the trip odometer is accomplished is more certainly held in its normal position out of engagement with the trip odometer wheels than has heretofore commonly been the case to thereby prevent accidental engagement between the resetting member and the trip odometer mechanism at times when the trip mechanism is not to be reset; and a further object of my invention is to provide resetting mechanism in which looseness between the resetting member and the bearing in which it operates is automatically taken up by means of a suitable spring, thereby preventing vibration of the resetting member when in use upon a vehicle,

lith the above and other obj ects of invention in view my invention consists in the improved trip resetting mechanism for odometers illustrated in the accompanying drawing and hereinafter described and claimed; and in such variations and modilications thereof, within the scope of the concluding claims, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates.

The drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification is in the nature of a fragmentary view showing my improved re setting mechanism in connection with odometer mechanism of va type at present in use, the drawing comprising a single figure or view.

In the drawing, the reference numeral l designates a suitable frame which is arranged inside a casing 2 of any form, and which frame supports the odometer mechanism illustrated, as well also as speedometer mechanism; my invention being commonly used in connection with an instrument commonly called a speedometer and comprising mechvpinion let, the sleeve ll. and the driving conn anism for indicating the speed of the vehicle with which it is used, as well also as for indicating the total mileage traif'eled and the mileage traveled each trip. The total odometer wheels are indicated by the reference numerals 3, the same being driven from a pinion 4 which in turn is driven from the main driving shaft of the instrument. rlhe numeral 5 designates a shaft which supports the usual carrying pinions G, as will be appreciated. t

The wheels of the trip odometer are designated by the numerals 7, three wheels being ordinarily provided; the right hand one indicatingtenths of a mile, and the others miles up to one hundred. These trip wheels are supported upon a shaft 8 the ends of which are held in bearings in the frame, and they are rotatable about the shaft as a. support in the usual manner. The carrying pinions 9 for the trip odometer are all supported by a singleshaft l0 corresponding with the shaft 5 for the total odometer wheels.

The reference numeral il designates a sleeve which is slidable upon the shaft 8, and the left hand end of this sleeve is in constant driving engagement with the right hand or tenths wheel of the odometer through slip driving connection at l2. This sleeve is urged toward the right by a spring 13, and the right hand end thereof abuts against the right hand bearing for the shaft 8.

The sleeve ll carries a pinion la which moves therewith, and which drives the sleeve and, consequently, the trip train; said pinion.

being adapted to mesh with a driving gear l5 which is driven from the pinion fl. It therefore follows that the trip t i is driven from the pinion e through the driving gear l5, the

neet-ion indicated by the numeral l2. The pinion 14 is normally in engagement with the driving gear l5, at which time the sleeve is in the right hand position shown in full lines; but moves out of mesh with said gear when the sleeve is moved laterally and to the left against theaction of the spring 13. The frame l is provided with anv elongated bearing 1G; and the reference numeral 17 designates a resetting member which is slidable,l

in said bearing, and is rotatable'to accom-` plish the resetting of the trip train. rlhis member carries a resetting gear 18 at its inner end, and has at its innerV` extremity a cam member 19 which cooperates with a second annular cam member 20 carried by the sleeve 11, so that inward movement of the resetting member moves the sleeve 11- sidewise and to the left, because of the mutual action of the saidY cam members.

Inthe act of resetting the trip odometer inward movementJ of the resetting member 17 will as explained .move the sleeve 11 to the left, thus disengaging the pinion 14 from the driving gear Y15 the -driving connection between the sleeve and right hand wheel of the trip odometerbeing maintained, however, through the sliding connection 12. Inward movement of the member 17 to the extent of its travel not only moves the sleeve 11 to the left but brings the resetting gear 18 and the pinion 14 into mesh with one another, as indicated bydotted lines; whereupon and upoiii'otat'ing the resetting member the trip train may be moved backward or forward to zero, as the train as arwhole has been disconnected from the driving gear 15 by the movement of t-he pinion 14 ont of mesh withsaid gear. Y 1 Y The referenceY numeral 21 designates a Y spring which surrounds Athe resetting member 17 and acts between the outer end of the bearing 16 and an abutment carried by the member 17, so that the saidV member is normally held in its outermost position by Vthe spring, with the resetting gearj18 in its inoperative position. The springs 13 and 21 obviouslyact-in opposition to one another when the cam members 19 and 2O are in engagement 5 and the combined eect of the two springs, more particularly the spring 21, is

to yieldably hold the pai-ts xedintlieir normally inoperative'position and to prevent vibration thereof, as well also as to prevent accidental inwardmovement of the resetting member 17, sucliV holding of the parts prevents vibration of the resetting member, Vdue toV jarring of the vehicle, which vibration would otherwise occur because of a certain amount of necessary looseness between the vresetting member and the bearing 16. In the form of my invention shown the abutment' for the outer end of the spring 21 is formed by providing a groove 22 in said member and Y within which groove the outer coil of the said spring 21'lies; andthe outer part of the resetting .member beyond the' outer extremity scribed, a bearing for a resetting member; a

ting member.

2. In odometer mechanism of the kclass described, a suitableV frame; a rotatableresetting member slidable in a bearing carried by said frame, and the outer part of which mem- 'bcr is of substantially uniform diameter beond the outer extremit Vof said bearing and toits outer end; a resetting gear secured to the inner end'of said resetting member; and aV coil spring surrounding Vsaidr resetting fmember and the outer end of which lies withina groove in said member, and the inner end of which acts against the outer eiid of Vsaid bearing to thereby hold said member and i' gear in a normally inoperative position.

InY testimony whereof I affix my signature.

Josnrri ZUBATY.

oftlie'bearingflti is of substantially uniform Y diameter, so that the spring 21 may be put in f place by slipping it over such outer end until l its outer coil snaps into the Vgroove 22.

Having' thus described my invention and Y explained the operation thereof, I claim and a `desireto lsecure by Letters Patent:

1. 'In odometer mechanism of the class deiso 

